Town of Arlington annual report 1923, Part 7

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1923
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 742


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The Symmes Hospital endeavors to collect such charges from patients, but all bad collections, it seems, will have to be taken care of by the Town. In addition all work of tracing settlements, next of kin, etc., in connection with these cases has to be assumed by the Board. This statute has been in force for a good many years, but until recently its provisions have not been resorted to by the hospitals.


Reimbursements from other towns and cities for 1923 amounted to $6,832.68.


GARAGES


New regulations by the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety, as to the construction of garages and the storing


86


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


and keeping of gasolene for sale became operative in June of this year. These regulations called for the listing of all garages in existence at that time, and a public hearing on all applications for the construction of new garages. Through the voluntary services of Chief Tierney and Building Inspector Gratto, the listing has been very nearly completed. One night every other week has been given over by the Board for garage hearings.


It has been the policy of the Board not to grant locations for community garages of large capacities in residential sections within places where they would seem to increase traffic con- gestion.


INSURANCE


The Board recommends an increase in Town insurance based on eight per cent of valuation. This valuation can be reduced at any time when building conditions warrant so doing. Adjustments have been much more speedily made through the Town insurance agent, than formerly. The superiority of the present method over the old has been clearly demonstrated the past year. Following is a list of our public buildings with valuations and contents :


Appraised Insurance,


Description


Value of Buildings


Buildings on 80% Basis


Contents on 90% Basis


Town Hall


$25,618


$20,000


$10,000


New Town Hall


350,643


260,000


36,000


Robbins Library


196,390


157,000


54,000


Junior High School


145,305


116,000


12,260


Portable School


5,752


4,600


540


Parmenter School


28,465


22,000


3,950


Portable School


2,875


2,300


350


Russell School


90,452


72,000


6,000


Dwelling


8,898


7,000


Cemetery Tool House


2,023


1,600


900


Wm. Penn Hose House


10,445


8,400


17,000


Sewer Department Building


1,151


1,000


Grand Stand and Dressing


Room


6,804


5,400


400


Crosby School


113,870


91,000


13,200


New High School


412,686


330,000


32,250


ST


SELECTMEN'S REPORT


Bicycle Shed


$400


$400


Dwelling and Shop


10,691


8,500


Barn and Garage


7,362


5,900


$33,750


Sheds and Other Buildings


11,772


9,400


Highland Hose House


10,975


8,800


15,000


Storage Building


672


500


Cutter School


81,162


65,000


7,750


Locke School


141,465


113,000


12,550


Formerly Hose House


4,107


3,200


New Junior High School West 139,241


112,000


14,000


Tree Warden


3,250


Wire Department Roadster


315


Advocate Office


360


Town Clock


400


Fire Alarm Tower


1,100


Crosby School


Heights


2,250


Ford Truck


510


Reo Truck


1,675


$1,809,224 $1,425,000


$280,060


One-way streets have been created, whenever conditions warranted, for the better distribution of travel.


No action has been taken on the application of the Middle- sex and Boston Street Railway to operate busses from the car barns at Arlington Heights to the Lexington line. As the road has but a small trackage within the Town limits, the Board's action will necessarily be governed very much by Lexington's solution of this problem. In any event, the town interests will be safeguarded in all respects. The Board recommends that an appropriation be made for the proper observance of Armistice Day, that the youth and children may be yearly impressed with the true meaning of this day.


CHARLES H. HIGGINS, Chairman, NELSON B. CROSBY, CHARLES B. DEVEREAUX.


REPORT OF FIRE DEPARTMENT - 1923


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1924.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit my first report as Chief of the Fire Department, for the year ending December 31, 1923.


Up to May 1st the Department was in charge of a Board of Fire Engineers, Walter H. Peirce, Chief; Frank P. Winn, First Assistant; Daniel B. Tierney, Second Assistant.


On the recommendation of Chief Peirce and Assistant Chief Winn, the Town voted to accept the provisions of Sections 42 to 44, both inclusive, of Chapter 48 of the General Laws, relating to Fire Departments, establishing a fire department to be under the control of an officer to be known as the Chief of the Fire Department.


Four permanent captains were appointed, Mead, Sweeney, Corbett and O'Brien, men who have served the Town faithfully for twenty-eight, twenty-six, twenty-three and twenty years, respectively.


The Department now consists of twelve permanent men, three of whom were appointed in May and twenty-four call men.


October 1st, Combination E (reserve since 1918) was put into regular service, responding to all bell-alarms from Cam- bridge, Somerville line to Jason-Mill Streets. By this arrange- ment East Arlington is benefited by the arrival of two pieces at the same time.


The Department responded to 96 bell-alarms, 174 still- alarms, 6 out-of-town calls, a total of 276 alarms.


While the number of alarms is 23 greater than last year, the regular apparatus did much less work as Combination E responded to 50 telephone calls and the Chief's car to 58.


88


89


CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


1923


1922


Response of Apparatus:


Combination A, 109 calls


Combination B, 123 calls


Combination D, 12 calls


Combination E, 74 calls


Ladder 1, 93 calls.


VALUE OF PROPERTY ENDANGERED


Value of buildings, $300,075; value of contents, $52,400; total, $352,475.


Insurance on buildings, $320,890; insurance on contents, $49,800; total $370,690.


Insurance paid on buildings, $21,928.50; insurance paid on contents, $9,378; total, $31,306.50.


APPROPRIATION


Appropriation, $33,187; expended, $32,937.20; unexpended balance $249.80; receipts, $46.


See Auditor's Report for details.


APPARATUS


The fire apparatus consists of five (5) pieces, all of which are in good condition.


Combination A, Knox Motor Combination, 35 gallons chemical tank, 1,000 feet of hose purchased March, 1911, for $5,500.


Combination B, Knox Motor Combination (triple) 650 gallon pump, 40 gallon chemical tank and 1,200 feet of hose, purchased June, 1913 for $6,500.


Ladder 1, Robinson Motor Combination, 40-gallon chem- ical tank, 335 feet of ladders, purchased December, 1915, for $6,000.


Combination D, Knox Motor Combination, 25-gallon chem- ical tank, 700 feet of hose, built by men at Highland Station in 1917 at a cost of $990.


Combination E, Knox Motor Combination, two 35-gallon chemical tanks, 1,000 feet of hose, was built by men of Central Station in 1918 at a cost of $1,500.


Chief's car, Knox Motor, rebuilt by the Department in 1922, at a cost of $1,112. All minor repairs are made by the


Response of. Apparatus:


Combination A, 181 calls Combination B, 171 calls


Ladder 1, 112 calls


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


firemen who are willing and competent to make almost all needed repairs had they the necessary equipment.


During the year new wheels and tires were bought for Combination B. The wheels of Combination D and E were cut down and fitted with new tires. Three pieces, A, D, E, now have tires of uniform size.


FIRE PREVENTION


By the regular and systematic inspection of stores, offices factories, halls, apartment houses, etc., the Fire Department is striving to lessen the number of fires. Every hazard reported has been investigated and a total of 4,180 inspections were made in 1923.


In addition, 1,130 small garages, 216 old buildings, in which motor vehicles are kept were inspected, 495 of these were re-inspected, making a total for the year of 6,021.


All school buildings were inspected, 47 extinguishers re- charged, 18 defective hose replaced, 18 lengths of 2-inch hose tested and on our recommendation, 24 additional extinguishers were purchased.


The majority of inspections were made by the officers and men on their "days off" each man giving one-half day to the work.


With few exceptions, owners and occupants have been most willing to correct any dangerous condition called to their attention, often at a considerable outlay.


168 permits were issued to burn rubbish out of-doors. These permits may be obtained at either fire station at any time.


RECOMMENDATIONS


Arlington has grown so rapidly it is no longer safe to depend upon a one-alarm fire department. It is imperative that each station be equipped and manned to take care of its section and to assist at a second alarm in either section. On two occasions during the past year an alarm came when the whole force was fighting a fire and in consequence, of the necessary delay, the second fire did much more damage than if the Department had been divided as suggested; therefore, I strongly recommend the appointment of three (3) additional men that this arrangement may be made.


91


CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT


Some alterations and repairs should be made at Highland Station. At present it is necessary to remove Combination A in order to get Combination D out.


If the stairway which leads to the apparatus floor were moved to another part of the building, the needed space would be furnished. (The lumber would be the only expense as the men would do the work.)


I recommend the appropriation of $41,534.90 for the maintenance of the Department for the ensuing year, this sum to cover the expense of the recommendations made.


In concluding, I extend my thanks to your Honorable Board for the courteous treatment and splendid support you have given me the past year.


I also extend to the former Chief, Walter H. Peirce, my thanks for his kindly advice and helpful suggestions that have been of such great assistance to me in my new work.


I thank Chief Urquhart and his officers for their perfect co-operation with the Fire Department.


To the Town Engineer, George Ahern and his Department, I wish to express my appreciation for the many favors received from them.


To Executive Harvey Bacon and the Boy Scouts for their valuable assistance at the fire in Peirce's woods and the dis- tribution of circulars during Fire Prevention Week, I extend my thanks.


To the officers and men of the Fire Department I extend my sincerest thanks for their faithful devotion to duty and for the loyal and generous help which they have given me.


Respectfully submitted,


DANIEL B. TIERNEY, Chief.


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1st 1924.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: I have the honor to submit to your Honorable Board a report of the doings of the police department for the year ending December 31st, 1923. .


During the year there were 1,174 arrests, of this number 1,151 were males and 23 females; 85 were juveniles or persons under 17 years of age, 448 were residents and 726 were non- residents. The Chief attended Court 110 days and the officers 502 days. Fines and costs to the amount of $4,019 were imposed by the Court and 605 day's imprisonment.


The number of complaints of crimes against the person (assault and battery, manslaughter, rape, robbery, etc.) was 35. For crimes against property, (breaking and entering, larceny, unlawful appropriation, etc.) 117. For crimes against public order (misdemeanors which include violations of the auto and traffic laws, disturbances and drunkenness, etc.) were 1,022. . Of this number 164 were fined, 342 were placed on file on payment of costs, 56 placed on probation and 41 were discharged.


There were 184 auto collisions in which no personal injury was involved and 134 accidents and auto collisions in which personal injury was involved and investigations made by your police. Four autos were reported as stolen in Arlington during the year and recovered; 1,550 autos were reported as stolen in the Metropolitan District and of this number we recovered 13 and returned them to owners. 706 sales of automobiles made by residents were recorded at the police station.


The coming year will see a greater congestion of traffic and there should be a traffic man posted at the junction of Medford and Chestnut streets to care for the large number of pupils that attend the Parochial school at this point and another at the


92


93


REPORT OF CHIEF OF POLICE


junction of Summer and Mystic Streets where many near acci- dents have taken place. There were four fatal auto accidents this year as against six the previous year.


At a convention of the Massachusetts Police Association earlier in the year (an association to which a majority of our patrolmen belong) I have been informed that a unanimous vote was taken in favor of a one dollar per day increase in wages for patrolmen throughout the State and the proper officials of many cities and towns have already (Arlington included) been re- quested through a committee of their local police to grant this measure. Your town laborers are receiving 5614 cents per hour as against 5512 cents per hour for the police the laborer getting extra pay at the rate of time and a half for overtime and the police get nothing; I submit under separate cover a list of over 50 cities and towns having organized police departments with full and complete data as regards pay, appropriations and in- creased pay asked for and an analysis of this list will show that this department has been economical in its expenditures. . urge that the sum of $58,108.05 be appropriated for the salary budget for 1924 and that the request of a dollar per day increase be granted.


The time has arrived when the needs of a new police station must be considered. We have outgrown the present quarters and the continued maintenance of the old town hall for this Department at the extraordinary expense necessary for the upkeep make it anything but a business proposition and one in which for a business man in his own private affairs would spell failure.


I ask that a proper committee be appointed to investigate the advisability of new police headquarters and that the sum of $300 be appropriated for this purpose.


The appropriation asked for the police department for the ensuing year is as follows :-


For the salary budget, at present rate including three new men $49,324.05


For the salary budget, if increase of one dollar per day is granted 58,108.05


For the telephone budget (same as last year) 275.00


94


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


For the automobile budget (same as last year) $1 600.00


For the general expenditure budget 2,000.00


Total appropriation without increase of pay $53,199.05 Total appropriation with increase of pay 61,983.05


I respectfully ask that the increase of pay be granted and that the sum of $61,983.05 be appropriated for the police Department for the year 1924.


This report has been greatly abbreviated for printing at the request of your Honorable Board, but a full detailed report has been rendered for your files.


In conclusion I wish to extend to your Honorable Board and the citizens my deep appreciation for the strong support given us in the discharge of our arduous duties.


Respectfully submitted,


THOMAS O. D. URQUHART, Chief of Police.


INSPECTOR OF BUILDINGS


1


ARLINGTON, MASS., December 31, 1923.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen, Arlington, Mass .:


I herewith submit my report of the inspection of buildings, plumbing and gas for the year ending December 31, 1923.


Seven hundred and forty building permits have been issued, classified as follows:


Dwellings, one family


94


$563,100


Dwellings, two family


298


2,639,600


Additions and Alterations


52


79,555


Garages


256


265,295


Schoolhouse


1


82,000


Gas Storage Tank


1


200,000


Manufacturing Building


1


4,000


Mill


1


15,000


Warehouse


1


13,000


Blocks of Stores


3


17,650


Block of Stores and Tenement


1


21,000


Filling Stations


2


8,000


Bakery


1


1,500


Coal Pocket


1


2,000


Gravel Hopper.


1


3,500


Piazzas


12


4,690


Office


1


200


Repair Shop


1


3,500


Shops


2


700


Sheds


7


8,050


Henhouses


3


400


740


$3,932,740


Since April 1, 1923, 425 plumbing permits and 775 gas permits have been issued.


Respectfully submitted,


WILLIAM GRATTO, Inspector of Buildings.


95


REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1924.


Gentlemen: I herewith respectfully submit my sixth annual report of services for this Department for the year ending December 31, 1923.


Number of scales, weights and measures sealed


1,613


Number of scales, weights and measures condemned


18


Total


1,631


Weights found incorrect and adjusted


63


Scales found incorrect and adjusted


16


Pumps having measuring devices, adjusted


110


Total


189


Weights condemned


3


Sales condemned


15


Total


18


Number of visits made to stores


283


Weighed out packages tested at stores


648


Number of inspections of scales and measures by junk collectors, hawkers and pedlers


17


Tested Correct Under Over


Coke and charcoal


2


2


Coal in wagons


3


1


2


Coal in paper bags


18


18


Ice


3


1


2


Flour


70


68


2


Butter


81


37


44


Dry commodities


156


139


7


10


Meats and provisions


43


29


14


Bread


130


61


69


Confectionery


73


58


15


96


97


REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES


Tested


Correct Under Over


Gasolene and oil pumps


22


22


Massachusetts sealed bottles


30


30


Ice cream cartons


7


7


Milk jars


20


20


Scales


86


82


2


2


Clinical thermometers


104


101


3


Markings on packages


158


158


Ice cream moulds


46


46


Total


1,052


880


12


160


Two samples of coal were taken to the State Chemist for analysis as to quality.


Tests : 91 per cent coal, 9 per cent shale.


86 per cent coal, 14 per cent shale.


One junk dealer was taken to court and found guilty on two charges and fined twenty dollars on each count.


One thousand six hundred and thirteen (1,613) scales, weights and measures were inspected, sealed or condemned at places of business and statutory fees were received, and the same paid to the Tax Collector.


Respectfully submitted,


ALBERT F. DUFFY, Sealer of Weights and Measures.


REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 24, 1924.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the town of Arlington.


During the past year, several outbreaks of rabies took place in our town, but with the aid of quarantine, the dogs in the localities where cases developed, we were able to control this disease. 63 dogs were quarantined during the year; 11 of these were cases of rabies; 29 were dogs which had bitten people; 23 were dogs which had come in contact with rabied dogs. Of the number of contact cases, only 4 developed rabies. This small number is without doubt due to the fact that the other dogs were given the preventive treatment.


Three cases of tuberculosis among cattle were found in the Town during the year. At the spring inspection, it was very noticeable in the decrease in the number of hogs found in the Town, due to the Board of Health regulation. The number of cattle remains about the same from year to year.


Respectfully submitted,


F. HOLDEN SMITH, V. M. D. Inspector of Animals.


98


REPORT OF TOWN PHYSICIAN


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1924.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Gentlemen: I hereby submit a report of the work done by the Town Physician for the year ending December 31, 1923.


The duties of the Town Physician are divided into two parts-1, the care of the outside poor; 2, that of acting as police surgeon.


1. The number of outside poor calls at home 80


The number of office calls including vaccinations 40


Patients taken or sent to insane hospital 4


2. Emergency calls at police station and accidents 38


Owing to the excellent work of our new traffic squad the number of serious automobile accidents has decreased greatly the past year. This is especially noticeable in the number of fatal accidents to small children.


Respectfully submitted,


HAROLD R. WEBB, Town Physician.


99


GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


I herewith submit my tenth annual report as Moth Super- intendent for year ending Dec. 31, 1923.


The Town as a whole is in a very good condition so far as the Gypsy Moth is concerned but there is an increase in the Brown Tail Moth nests. There are scattered all through the Town nests of both the Gypsy and Brown Tail Moths but as a whole we compare favorably if not better than conditions in surrounding Towns. Much brush cutting was done the past year on account of the Tent caterpillar and also as a protection against the Gypsy Moth alongside walls in the Park and on our back streets. Our worst colonies are on the Willows along the shores of Spy Pond and Mystic Lake also in Meadowbrook Park. A very bad infestation exists in Belmont just over the line at the Lake St. end.


There is a condition there which in my opinion is a menace and we shall always have trouble in that section until that colony is cleaned up. It would be a sad mistake to suspend work at this time as no man can tell what conditions will be in the future as extermination is impossible, but there is a possi- bility that much of the work could be eliminated and with great care your appropriation somewhat reduced so that the money heretofore appropriated was not wasted. The following is a statement of expenditures, and location.


LOCATION OF WORK


Labor


Sundries


Almshouse property


1.32


Gray Street lot


1.12


Lost time


562.83


1


Meadowbrook Park


6.50


Menotomy Rocks Park


151.26


Medford Street property


.66


Mt. Pleasant Cemetery


1.59


100


101


GYPSY AND BROWN-TAIL MOTH DEPARTMENT


Mystic Street Gravel pit


$.53


Old Town Hall


1.12


Pleasant Street Cemetery


10.06


Private work


913.54


Reservoir Woods


27.81


Robbins Library


.56


School properties


28.59


Spy Pond Field and Willows


46.69


Stone Crusher property


8.36


Street trees


757.14


Waste Land


33.18


Vacations


267.00


Storehouse labor


132.00


Office Supplies and Expense


$53.95


Rent of Storehouse


100.00


Superintendent and Clerk


2,321.41


Truck and Team hire


145.00


Tools, Repairs and Supplies


927.22


$5,273.27


$1,226.17


Labor


$5,273.27


Sundries


1,226.17


Unexpended balance


.56


Appropriation


$6,500.00


NATURE OF WORK


Labor


Sundries


Cutting and Burning Brush


$520.39


Lost time


562.83


Removing dead wood


73.45


Spraying


428.53


Storehouse labor


132.00


Treating nests


967.66


Vacations


267.00


Office supplies and expense


$53.95


Rent of Storehouse


100.00


Superintendent ånd Clerk


2,321.41


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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Truck and team hire


Tools, repairs and supplies


$145.00 927.22


$5,273.27


$1,226.17


Labor


$5,273.27


Sundries


1,226.17


Unexpended balance


.56


Appropriation


$6,500.00


D. M. DALEY, Superintendent. J. F. HIGGINS, Clerk.


TOWN HOUSE AND GROUNDS


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


Dear Sirs: I herewith submit my report of labor on Town House Grounds for the year ending December 31, 1923.


Labor, $857.74; supplies, $65.19; total, $922.93. Nature of Work


Snow work


$51.73


Remove and replace boards


42.88


Remove and replace winter cover


117.00


Cultivate beds and fertilize lawn


60.00


Clean pool and ripple


24.75


Seed, roll and mow lawn


315.75


Rake, hoe and clean driveway


24.75


Roping at 19th April celebration


9.00


Edging lawn


22.50


Trimming hedges and bushes


111.50


Watering


19.75


Planting


9.00


Weed and sweep walks


39.00


Remove broken trees


3.38


Rose bug and aphis spraying


6.75


Total labor


$857.74


Supplies including fertilizer (30)


65.19


Total


$922.93


Respectfully submitted,


DANIEL M. DALEY, Superintendent.


103


REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES, ROBBINS FUND, SOLDIERS' MONUMENT FUND AND SAMUEL C. BUCKNAM FUND


ARLINGTON, MASS., January 1, 1924.


The report of the Commissioners having charge of the cemeteries and the above funds is herewith submitted for the year ending December 31, 1923. The strictest adherence has been maintained by the Commissioners of the sale of lots to only residents of Arlington.


Twenty-four single graves and forty-eight lots have been sold during 1923, amounting to $5,005. This amount, together with the appropriation of $6,000 and the income of the funds are the only amounts available for the use of the cemetery.


INTERMENTS


Whole number of interments 196


Number of bodies received at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery 205


Number of bodies removed from tomb to other cem- eteries 9


Number of bodies removed from lots to other cemeteries


4


Number of bodies removed from other cemeteries to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery


8


Number of bodies buried in single graves


35


Number of bodies in public lot


16


Number of bodies in private lots and private tombs


145


STOCK AND TOOLS ON HAND


1 Lowering device


$100.00


1 Lowering device


55.00


Lawn mowers


100.00


2 Carts


60.00


3 Wheelbarrows


20.00


Lawn hose


80.00


Bricks


50.00


Waste barrels


50.00


104


105


REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS OF CEMETERIES


Lawn sprinklers


35.00


Sail cloths 70.00


Tools of all kinds


60.00


Loam


500.00


Screens, stone and gravel


1,000.00


$2,180.00


RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES


Appropriation for 1923


$6,000.00


Receipts for sale of lots 5,005.00


Receipts for perpetual care 2,075.00


Receipts for care of lots, openings, etc.


4,147.85


Receipts for income, Perpetual Care Fund


2,810.95


Receipts for income, Robbins Fund


228.23


Receipts for income, Soldiers Monument Fund 120.00


Receipts for income, S. C. Bucknam Fund


91.84


$20,478.87


Expenditures


Paid Town Treasurer, Perpetual Care Fund $2,195.00


Paid Town Treasurer, Receipts for open- ings, care of lots, etc. 4,147.85




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